*** Hi, guys! Feeling ko obligado akong magpaliwanag (kahit hindi naman dapat. Charing!). This update was supposed to be posted around last week of January kaso may nangyaring mabigat sa akin that time that I know I'll never be able to get over with. So, from the bottom of my broken heart, sorry for the delay. Sana ma-enjoy niyo 'to kahit paano. Thank you sa pag-aantay. Always be reminded that patience is a virtue. Hihi!***
"Oh, wala pa ring engagement ring?" Raj asked in full confusion as he stared at my left hand na hawak-hawak niya at nakadikit na halos sa may mata niya. Lahat tuloy sila eh napalingon sa akin. They were all sharing this anticipated look on their faces.
Natigilan ako as I stared blankly at them. Tuluyan ko na kayang tusukin mata nito? I thought as I sighed. I intentionally kept quiet. Sometimes silence will allow things to just pass. Mamaya, kusang kakalma mga 'yan.
But seconds later, agit na agit pa rin sila. Parang they were just waiting for the bomb to drop. May pag-asa talaga sa mata nila. Jusko! Akala ko kapag nan-deadma ako, titigil din sila.
Kaso hindi.
I glanced sideways in retreat. I blew out some air.
I, uhmm, sort of... Uhh, okay. I expected that to happen too in there kasi naman the last time we talked about that in Singapore, he had this conviction talaga. So I thought he'd do that in Jeju Island. Nag-prepare pa ako. Nagpa-manicure pa nga ako ng bongga para hindi naman nakakahiya doon sa singsing if ever.
I even expected it to happen at New Year kasi we should start the year right. Mangiyak-ngiyak pa nga ako noong lumabas kami an hour before the year ended. He said he reserved the gazebo at the garden of the resort so we could stay there to welcome the year. It was even decorated with colorful lights. As in romantic feels talaga! Naiiyak na ako nun sa kilig ko because he really prepared a lot.
Todo pa-kalma ako ng sarili ko habang naglalakad. There's even this pool of thoughts in me as we went in. Like:
1. Shocks! This is it, teh! Paki-ready na ang sarili.
2. Inhale. Exhale. Walang iiyak.
3. Gosh, I'll get engaged on the first day of the year.
4. So much win ito, teh! Kavogue.
5. Dana Sanae V. Cordero – Montero... Holy shit, so bagay!
But I guess I set my hopes too high. Too high that it wasn't within my grasps anymore. Kasi nakapag-dinner na kami, nakapagtawanan nang bongga, nakapag-throwback ng mga ganap for the past year, naka-ubos na kami ng tatlong bottles ng soju, nakapag-light na kami ng fountain at iba't ibang kwitis at lahat...
Pero walang proposal na naganap.
Sa limang statements na nabuo sa utak ko habang papasok kami, isa lang ang nasabi ko paglabas namin. Inhale. Exhale. Walang iiyak.
I tilted my head as I glanced at my best friends. Concealing the disappointment in me (Chars! Disappoinment talaga?), I smiled as I pulled my hand back, shrugged and gracefully took a seat. Nakatitig pa rin sila sa akin when I casually took Raj's fork and got a full twirl of the Jolly Spaghetti on his plate.
"How long will you stare at me?" I ask habang inuubos yung pagkain sa bibig ko.
"Hanggang sa sumagot ka, malamang," Raj answered and as if on cue, their heads moved closer to me. Kusang tumaas yung kilay ko as I moved away.
"Ay, ano ba naman yan!" irita kong sagot.
"Sagot," Yhin said in a low and authoritive tone. Nakatitig pa rin silang lahat sa akin.
